Cricket/ First Test: A spirited sixth-wicket stand of 115 between VVS Laxman and Mahendra Singh Dhoni put India in sight of a first-innings lead in the first Test with Pakistan by the end of day two in Delhi.
India had earlier polished off the Pakistan tail to dismiss the tourists for 231.
However, the Pakistan bowlers had some early success, reducing India to 93 for five.
Laxman and Dhoni then put on 115 for the sixth wicket before Dhoni departed for 57, stumped by wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal off Danish Kaneria.
Laxman was unbeaten on 57 at stumps with India 228 for six, just four runs short of a first-innings lead.
India reached 46 for one by lunch with the loss of Dinesh Karthik, caught by Kamran off the bowling of Shoaib Akhtar for nine. After lunch, Shoaib removed Wasim Jaffer for 32, the opener trapped lbw.
Sachin Tendulkar was then run out for a single as he went for a second run. Sourav Ganguly was bowled between bat and pad by Sohail Tanvir for eight and Sohail then bowled Rahul Dravid for 38.
But Laxman and Dhoni delighted the crowd in the evening session with their resistance.
Scoreboard
Overnight: Pakistan 210 for 8 (Misbah-ul-Haq 71 not out)
PAKISTAN - First innings
Misbah ul-Haqrun out 82
Mohammad Saminot out 28
Danish Kaneriab Kumble 0
Extras(b6, lb12, w2, nb1, pens 0) 21
Total(96.2 overs)231
Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-35, 3-59, 4-76, 5-83, 6-122, 7-137, 8-142, 9-229.
Bowling: Khan 20-5-45-2; M M Patel 24-5-61-1; Kumble 21.2-6-38-4; Ganguly 14-5-28-1; Harbhajan Singh 15-1-37-1; Tendulkar 2-0-4-0
INDIA - First innings
W Jafferlbw b Shoaib Akhtar 32
K Karthikc Kamran Akmal b Shoaib Akhtar 9
R Dravidb Tanvir 38
S Tendulkarrun out 1
S Gangulyb Tanvir 8
V S Laxmannot out 57
M Dhonist Kamran Akmal b Danish Kaneria 57
A Kumblenot out 7
Extras(b7, lb8, w1, nb3) 19
Total 6 wkts(63.2 overs) ... 228
Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-71, 3-73, 4-88, 5-93, 6-208.
To bat: Harbhajan Singh, Z Khan, M Patel.
Bowling: Shoaib Akhtar 13-2-36-2, Tanvir 19.2-4-75-2, Mohammad Sami 14-1-58-0, Danish Kaneria 17-3-44-1.
